An official website of the United States government
Many industries follow seasonal employment patterns over the course of a year as holiday schedules and weather affect hiring. Retail trade includes many industries with peak employment levels during the winter months because of holiday shopping.
Month | Temporary help services |
Clothing and clothing accessories stores |
Department stores, except discount |
Electronics stores |
Home furnishings stores |
Sporting goods stores |
Shoe stores |
Mail-order houses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2004 |
2,135,000 | 1,333,100 | 712,300 | 500,400 | 271,600 | 202,700 | 181,000 | 162,000 |
Feb 2004 |
2,160,400 | 1,296,200 | 680,900 | 491,800 | 266,400 | 201,200 | 175,300 | 159,900 |
Mar 2004 |
2,207,300 | 1,310,500 | 683,400 | 491,600 | 264,400 | 205,000 | 176,300 | 160,000 |
Apr 2004 |
2,301,900 | 1,314,800 | 683,500 | 492,300 | 265,900 | 204,400 | 178,500 | 159,500 |
May 2004 |
2,372,900 | 1,331,900 | 687,200 | 484,700 | 266,200 | 207,400 | 180,700 | 162,100 |
Jun 2004 |
2,407,000 | 1,356,500 | 690,100 | 484,700 | 267,800 | 211,400 | 181,300 | 164,800 |
Jul 2004 |
2,408,700 | 1,371,100 | 691,200 | 481,800 | 264,900 | 208,800 | 182,100 | 166,200 |
Aug 2004 |
2,485,300 | 1,384,100 | 692,100 | 482,000 | 268,500 | 211,400 | 188,300 | 167,200 |
Sep 2004 |
2,524,700 | 1,355,800 | 685,900 | 485,600 | 268,800 | 209,600 | 186,100 | 173,300 |
Oct 2004 |
2,599,600 | 1,374,800 | 718,600 | 504,800 | 274,300 | 212,500 | 180,700 | 179,300 |
Nov 2004 |
2,550,600 | 1,442,800 | 792,500 | 528,900 | 288,400 | 217,200 | 182,900 | 193,100 |
Dec 2004 |
2,492,900 | 1,499,400 | 828,700 | 538,200 | 292,000 | 222,900 | 184,900 | 195,900 |
Jan 2005 |
2,297,400 | 1,386,600 | 720,800 | 509,600 | 276,200 | 210,300 | 178,400 | 168,100 |
Feb 2005 |
2,331,100 | 1,345,400 | 683,200 | 498,100 | 270,200 | 205,700 | 174,000 | 163,600 |
Mar 2005 |
2,377,000 | 1,353,500 | 675,800 | 500,200 | 269,400 | 209,100 | 173,700 | 163,600 |
Apr 2005 |
2,452,300 | 1,354,500 | 672,100 | 497,800 | 270,800 | 209,800 | 173,700 | 163,900 |
May 2005 |
2,497,700 | 1,371,200 | 667,900 | 496,000 | 272,200 | 214,600 | 176,500 | 159,300 |
Jun 2005 |
2,563,000 | 1,400,400 | 670,300 | 498,900 | 273,500 | 218,400 | 180,200 | 158,500 |
Jul 2005 |
2,541,000 | 1,433,200 | 670,000 | 498,900 | 271,900 | 221,400 | 180,800 | 162,300 |
Aug 2005 |
2,639,100 | 1,443,800 | 671,200 | 507,800 | 276,600 | 224,300 | 185,700 | 166,700 |
Sep 2005 |
2,707,200 | 1,398,600 | 669,600 | 512,000 | 274,900 | 219,300 | 180,100 | 174,900 |
Oct 2005 |
2,737,000 | 1,411,000 | 694,300 | 523,600 | 284,100 | 222,700 | 182,100 | 182,300 |
Nov 2005 |
2,737,200 | 1,501,400 | 766,100 | 547,700 | 297,400 | 228,200 | 181,700 | 197,400 |
Dec 2005 |
2,712,300 | 1,575,500 | 795,800 | 561,300 | 301,300 | 235,000 | 189,900 | 200,500 |
Jan 2006 |
2,456,700 | 1,439,600 | 680,900 | 523,000 | 289,600 | 224,300 | 182,600 | 169,300 |
Feb 2006 |
2,468,600 | 1,385,800 | 647,200 | 514,300 | 281,500 | 221,400 | 177,600 | 158,700 |
Mar 2006 |
2,518,700 | 1,384,300 | 638,600 | 511,900 | 280,200 | 223,200 | 177,500 | 155,500 |
Apr 2006 |
2,559,400 | 1,380,100 | 633,100 | 499,400 | 282,700 | 224,000 | 179,200 | 155,000 |
May 2006 |
2,644,100 | 1,382,300 | 628,000 | 496,100 | 281,200 | 227,800 | 177,600 | 153,600 |
Jun 2006 |
2,677,700 | 1,419,900 | 632,200 | 498,700 | 283,200 | 235,600 | 181,500 | 153,600 |
Jul 2006 |
2,636,800 | 1,450,800 | 625,500 | 495,100 | 284,400 | 234,900 | 183,800 | 153,400 |
Aug 2006 |
2,727,000 | 1,466,000 | 620,700 | 495,600 | 283,300 | 236,600 | 187,300 | 157,200 |
Sep 2006 |
2,744,200 | 1,430,500 | 613,700 | 494,900 | 282,200 | 232,300 | 183,200 | 167,600 |
Oct 2006 |
2,767,300 | 1,459,900 | 638,000 | 504,600 | 292,200 | 233,400 | 184,400 | 179,800 |
Nov 2006 |
2,735,700 | 1,573,500 | 715,500 | 524,400 | 303,300 | 242,900 | 187,300 | 200,900 |
Dec 2006 |
2,712,200 | 1,637,700 | 741,600 | 527,700 | 311,600 | 250,800 | 198,800 | 200,300 |
Jan 2007 |
2,488,900 | 1,484,300 | 662,300 | 510,200 | 294,400 | 241,800 | 191,800 | 167,200 |
Feb 2007 |
2,482,300 | 1,426,700 | 626,500 | 505,300 | 284,100 | 233,300 | 182,900 | 159,400 |
Mar 2007 |
2,525,100 | 1,438,400 | 614,900 | 506,600 | 283,100 | 234,100 | 185,300 | 157,300 |
Apr 2007 |
2,551,000 | 1,446,800 | 610,800 | 505,400 | 282,500 | 236,500 | 188,700 | 152,600 |
May 2007 |
2,602,100 | 1,449,400 | 609,700 | 500,800 | 282,700 | 237,400 | 185,000 | 152,400 |
Jun 2007 |
2,627,400 | 1,467,000 | 620,100 | 501,000 | 278,900 | 241,900 | 184,400 | 150,700 |
Jul 2007 |
2,580,900 | 1,499,000 | 616,900 | 501,700 | 278,000 | 245,600 | 185,000 | 153,100 |
Aug 2007 |
2,650,200 | 1,522,200 | 614,200 | 500,700 | 283,300 | 246,900 | 192,800 | 155,900 |
Sep 2007 |
2,669,700 | 1,472,400 | 613,400 | 501,300 | 278,500 | 245,300 | 187,600 | 162,200 |
Oct 2007 |
2,704,300 | 1,490,900 | 631,800 | 509,400 | 287,600 | 248,900 | 187,400 | 173,300 |
Nov 2007 |
2,664,800 | 1,629,100 | 702,800 | 538,100 | 311,000 | 261,400 | 191,100 | 194,000 |
Dec 2007 |
2,621,700 | 1,673,500 | 746,100 | 545,600 | 316,500 | 262,400 | 200,500 | 197,500 |
Jan 2008 |
2,396,700 | 1,497,100 | 650,400 | 515,600 | 295,200 | 254,700 | 191,700 | 163,800 |
Feb 2008 |
2,358,700 | 1,434,700 | 605,600 | 508,800 | 278,800 | 245,500 | 187,300 | 158,200 |
Mar 2008 |
2,372,200 | 1,445,600 | 595,900 | 509,500 | 272,300 | 245,300 | 188,400 | 156,300 |
Apr 2008 |
2,389,400 | 1,440,800 | 580,500 | 505,600 | 270,200 | 243,600 | 188,400 | 154,600 |
May 2008 |
2,406,400 | 1,435,800 | 576,000 | 501,500 | 267,100 | 244,500 | 185,900 | 154,100 |
Jun 2008 |
2,408,200 | 1,445,000 | 577,600 | 498,800 | 265,700 | 247,800 | 184,700 | 149,900 |
Jul 2008 |
2,354,600 | 1,470,900 | 576,300 | 496,000 | 262,200 | 250,000 | 186,700 | 149,500 |
Aug 2008 |
2,387,300 | 1,493,800 | 563,900 | 493,800 | 260,800 | 253,000 | 194,500 | 150,600 |
Sep 2008 |
2,399,900 | 1,435,000 | 551,700 | 489,900 | 256,700 | 248,100 | 186,700 | 156,100 |
Oct 2008 |
2,360,600 | 1,452,100 | 566,500 | 497,200 | 262,300 | 252,600 | 184,000 | 164,700 |
Nov 2008 |
2,227,000 | 1,511,500 | 621,600 | 506,600 | 265,600 | 252,900 | 187,200 | 177,000 |
Dec 2008 |
2,119,400 | 1,554,200 | 675,100 | 506,000 | 267,200 | 255,500 | 193,700 | 176,800 |
Jan 2009 |
1,844,700 | 1,397,500 | 577,400 | 480,000 | 244,200 | 240,800 | 181,500 | 154,800 |
Feb 2009 |
1,789,200 | 1,341,900 | 543,000 | 470,800 | 230,700 | 233,300 | 176,200 | 147,200 |
Mar 2009 |
1,753,900 | 1,327,200 | 528,300 | 449,900 | 224,500 | 233,600 | 176,900 | 144,100 |
Apr 2009 |
1,736,200 | 1,322,600 | 518,300 | 447,500 | 221,500 | 231,600 | 177,500 | 143,800 |
May 2009 |
1,771,200 | 1,325,200 | 520,600 | 445,800 | 218,700 | 235,400 | 178,600 | 143,100 |
Jun 2009 |
1,756,300 | 1,337,500 | 522,500 | 444,500 | 217,400 | 239,800 | 178,100 | 141,400 |
Jul 2009 |
1,750,500 | 1,352,400 | 525,500 | 443,200 | 216,600 | 241,700 | 177,300 | 140,700 |
Aug 2009 |
1,790,000 | 1,360,000 | 534,900 | 446,600 | 216,600 | 246,500 | 182,800 | 142,400 |
Sep 2009 |
1,845,700 | 1,330,400 | 528,100 | 449,100 | 216,200 | 238,800 | 176,300 | 147,600 |
Oct 2009 |
1,913,500 | 1,355,500 | 539,900 | 452,500 | 224,400 | 233,200 | 174,900 | 157,000 |
Nov 2009 |
1,956,800 | 1,432,900 | 610,200 | 469,400 | 235,600 | 240,300 | 181,000 | 165,200 |
Dec 2009 |
1,971,200 | 1,483,300 | 644,800 | 474,600 | 241,900 | 247,000 | 184,900 | 171,200 |
Jan 2010 |
1,834,700 | 1,355,800 | 561,000 | 463,100 | 225,300 | 233,600 | 176,700 | 145,500 |
Feb 2010 |
1,857,800 | 1,308,100 | 537,800 | 453,300 | 216,100 | 225,700 | 172,700 | 141,400 |
Mar 2010 |
1,908,100 | 1,318,200 | 531,200 | 455,400 | 215,300 | 227,800 | 176,600 | 141,200 |
Apr 2010 |
1,977,400 | 1,325,000 | 527,500 | 452,100 | 214,100 | 230,300 | 175,300 | 140,800 |
May 2010 |
2,066,600 | 1,319,500 | 528,900 | 450,400 | 214,300 | 230,400 | 177,400 | 138,900 |
Jun 2010 |
2,097,000 | 1,332,900 | 532,000 | 450,900 | 214,700 | 234,000 | 178,800 | 138,300 |
Jul 2010 |
2,082,300 | 1,346,000 | 539,700 | 453,500 | 214,100 | 235,100 | 182,600 | 136,800 |
Aug 2010 |
2,148,700 | 1,348,000 | 545,400 | 458,100 | 214,000 | 237,000 | 189,900 | 138,500 |
Sep 2010 |
2,204,200 | 1,312,400 | 535,600 | 461,500 | 216,900 | 232,200 | 181,600 | 146,500 |
Oct 2010 |
2,286,700 | 1,351,800 | 551,500 | 478,600 | 231,100 | 236,000 | 181,300 | 152,500 |
Nov 2010 |
2,309,800 | 1,435,800 | 607,800 | 500,500 | 238,000 | 244,500 | 188,300 | 159,100 |
Dec 2010 |
2,349,900 | 1,476,000 | 653,000 | 500,700 | 242,900 | 251,900 | 196,400 | 163,600 |
Jan 2011 |
2,105,500 | 1,349,700 | 572,900 | 476,300 | 229,300 | 242,500 | 185,900 | 148,300 |
Feb 2011 |
2,147,100 | 1,295,500 | 548,100 | 467,300 | 220,100 | 236,100 | 177,100 | 140,000 |
Mar 2011 |
2,205,200 | 1,295,000 | 542,900 | 467,500 | 218,900 | 237,100 | 180,500 | 138,500 |
Apr 2011 |
2,245,300 | 1,306,200 | 535,900 | 469,000 | 217,500 | 240,300 | 180,300 | 137,400 |
May 2011 |
2,298,500 | 1,310,900 | 532,900 | 465,800 | 218,100 | 243,000 | 181,300 | 138,900 |
Jun 2011 |
2,300,000 | 1,333,300 | 541,900 | 468,500 | 218,500 | 246,400 | 181,000 | 136,800 |
Jul 2011 |
2,254,100 | 1,344,900 | 553,400 | 468,600 | 219,800 | 252,500 | 184,800 | 137,600 |
Aug 2011 |
2,343,400 | 1,359,900 | 549,500 | 462,000 | 218,700 | 253,800 | 189,500 | 141,200 |
Sep 2011 |
2,403,400 | 1,340,800 | 540,400 | 453,600 | 220,300 | 248,200 | 186,700 | 146,100 |
Oct 2011 |
2,470,900 | 1,375,200 | 554,600 | 462,400 | 234,600 | 250,800 | 185,500 | 155,100 |
Nov 2011 |
2,484,500 | 1,480,200 | 616,500 | 484,700 | 241,600 | 259,300 | 189,200 | 164,900 |
Dec 2011 |
2,498,200 | 1,539,700 | 670,000 | 487,200 | 244,600 | 262,600 | 196,500 | 166,700 |
Jan 2012 |
2,292,300 | 1,375,800 | 619,400 | 462,500 | 231,800 | 247,400 | 184,900 | 147,300 |
Feb 2012 |
2,347,800 | 1,319,200 | 551,300 | 456,900 | 221,400 | 242,400 | 179,900 | 138,700 |
Mar 2012 |
2,373,700 | 1,330,400 | 535,000 | 451,900 | 219,800 | 248,500 | 182,200 | 136,100 |
Apr 2012 |
2,411,100 | 1,331,900 | 525,600 | 450,000 | 216,900 | 253,900 | 182,400 | 133,800 |
May 2012 |
2,490,200 | 1,335,500 | 517,300 | 442,000 | 219,300 | 258,800 | 184,000 | 134,400 |
Jun 2012 |
2,528,100 | 1,349,000 | 508,100 | 440,500 | 219,000 | 264,300 | 185,000 | 133,200 |
Jul 2012 |
2,494,800 | 1,363,100 | 509,100 | 438,200 | 219,600 | 265,800 | 190,700 | 134,100 |
Aug 2012 |
2,547,800 | 1,384,400 | 503,600 | 432,200 | 223,000 | 265,000 | 188,800 | 138,200 |
Sep 2012 |
2,570,200 | 1,363,600 | 496,200 | 429,100 | 223,100 | 257,700 | 187,100 | 143,900 |
Oct 2012 |
2,625,000 | 1,400,800 | 507,800 | 436,100 | 234,000 | 259,000 | 183,000 | 151,500 |
Nov 2012 |
2,641,400 | 1,563,100 | 565,500 | 471,400 | 247,100 | 272,500 | 203,600 | 166,000 |
Dec 2012 |
2,621,400 | 1,580,500 | 602,700 | 467,400 | 250,500 | 273,200 | 208,300 | 170,500 |
Jan 2013 |
2,409,300 | 1,420,800 | 542,200 | 456,600 | 233,800 | 261,700 | 195,000 | 144,100 |
Feb 2013 |
2,442,300 | 1,341,400 | 518,100 | 440,200 | 227,500 | 259,500 | 185,600 | 137,000 |
Mar 2013 |
2,495,200 | 1,338,400 | 513,500 | 428,000 | 223,000 | 261,800 | 187,100 | 133,900 |
Apr 2013 |
2,548,300 | 1,327,300 | 520,000 | 424,400 | 225,600 | 260,000 | 186,800 | 132,900 |
May 2013 |
2,622,700 | 1,336,200 | 511,300 | 423,100 | 225,700 | 262,000 | 188,400 | 132,000 |
Jun 2013 |
2,664,600 | 1,360,200 | 513,500 | 421,500 | 226,100 | 267,000 | 191,800 | 132,700 |
Jul 2013 |
2,640,600 | 1,384,400 | 520,500 | 424,300 | 227,200 | 270,600 | 198,800 | 132,700 |
Aug 2013 |
2,712,900 | 1,410,300 | 513,200 | 429,100 | 225,700 | 273,000 | 203,400 | 135,400 |
Sep 2013 |
2,781,100 | 1,364,900 | 505,500 | 433,400 | 225,200 | 269,600 | 197,900 | 140,200 |
Oct 2013 |
2,818,000 | 1,376,100 | 515,900 | 456,600 | 237,500 | 272,700 | 199,000 | 150,300 |
Nov 2013 |
2,843,800 | 1,518,600 | 583,900 | 483,900 | 250,300 | 288,600 | 213,000 | 159,200 |
Dec 2013 |
2,855,100 | 1,578,500 | 628,600 | 485,900 | 258,400 | 293,000 | 221,000 | 166,100 |
Jan 2014 |
2,652,200 | 1,407,000 | 555,900 | 474,200 | 238,900 | 276,200 | 205,500 | 144,600 |
Feb 2014 |
2,685,600 | 1,344,400 | 520,900 | 445,200 | 229,900 | 269,200 | 200,400 | 138,200 |
Mar 2014 |
2,741,200 | 1,338,500 | 512,600 | 440,100 | 227,200 | 272,700 | 202,000 | 137,200 |
Apr 2014 |
2,785,700 | 1,351,000 | 510,800 | 428,600 | 226,000 | 274,500 | 204,100 | 138,900 |
May 2014 |
2,850,300 | 1,354,000 | 508,400 | 425,100 | 227,300 | 277,000 | 204,900 | 138,900 |
Jun 2014 |
2,890,400 | 1,366,600 | 513,100 | 429,400 | 227,100 | 278,800 | 206,000 | 140,000 |
Jul 2014 |
2,858,600 | 1,387,600 | 521,800 | 433,000 | 227,700 | 278,100 | 209,900 | 139,000 |
Aug 2014 |
2,940,300 | 1,401,600 | 518,200 | 435,400 | 233,000 | 281,900 | 212,400 | 139,900 |
Sep 2014 |
3,004,900 | 1,354,800 | 509,000 | 439,300 | 233,300 | 276,500 | 207,000 | 142,800 |
Month | Hobby, toy, and game stores |
Other specialty food stores |
Book stores and news dealers |
Cosmetic and beauty supply stores |
Electronic shopping and electronic auctions |
Tax preparation services |
Photographic services | Skiing facilities |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2004 |
136,300 | 132,300 | 160,100 | 100,300 | 53,900 | 175,200 | 75,900 | 79,000 |
Feb 2004 |
129,400 | 132,400 | 152,700 | 99,400 | 55,000 | 190,200 | 74,300 | 76,200 |
Mar 2004 |
126,700 | 129,900 | 150,100 | 98,200 | 55,600 | 173,200 | 78,000 | 62,800 |
Apr 2004 |
124,400 | 131,000 | 148,500 | 99,000 | 56,000 | 161,800 | 80,800 | 26,400 |
May 2004 |
124,000 | 132,300 | 151,700 | 99,500 | 56,200 | 44,200 | 80,700 | 10,700 |
Jun 2004 |
125,400 | 134,500 | 143,800 | 98,600 | 56,400 | 36,400 | 78,600 | 11,600 |
Jul 2004 |
123,400 | 132,100 | 146,500 | 98,700 | 56,400 | 32,100 | 77,400 | 12,900 |
Aug 2004 |
124,700 | 131,400 | 151,500 | 98,800 | 58,400 | 29,200 | 83,400 | 14,000 |
Sep 2004 |
128,200 | 131,200 | 163,900 | 98,600 | 59,900 | 28,900 | 91,200 | 14,900 |
Oct 2004 |
136,700 | 134,600 | 154,200 | 99,900 | 61,400 | 31,500 | 98,700 | 15,700 |
Nov 2004 |
153,800 | 138,700 | 156,300 | 101,800 | 63,000 | 20,300 | 100,600 | 28,500 |
Dec 2004 |
163,500 | 139,500 | 164,200 | 102,900 | 63,700 | 62,900 | 92,100 | 54,900 |
Jan 2005 |
137,600 | 129,200 | 160,300 | 96,200 | 61,600 | 175,400 | 76,100 | 76,000 |
Feb 2005 |
132,300 | 129,000 | 150,500 | 97,100 | 62,500 | 200,500 | 78,400 | 71,000 |
Mar 2005 |
130,000 | 127,600 | 148,500 | 96,100 | 64,200 | 176,500 | 81,700 | 62,600 |
Apr 2005 |
129,900 | 126,100 | 146,500 | 97,300 | 65,400 | 166,200 | 84,000 | 24,200 |
May 2005 |
129,000 | 128,900 | 147,800 | 96,900 | 65,700 | 51,100 | 83,800 | 10,500 |
Jun 2005 |
129,900 | 128,500 | 144,300 | 98,000 | 67,000 | 45,300 | 81,900 | 10,100 |
Jul 2005 |
129,500 | 128,400 | 143,100 | 95,700 | 68,000 | 40,000 | 78,000 | 10,300 |
Aug 2005 |
130,900 | 130,000 | 148,800 | 97,400 | 69,300 | 43,500 | 85,800 | 10,800 |
Sep 2005 |
132,900 | 127,700 | 153,300 | 91,900 | 70,700 | 46,900 | 93,800 | 9,200 |
Oct 2005 |
143,300 | 128,900 | 149,700 | 97,100 | 72,400 | 49,100 | 100,400 | 9,500 |
Nov 2005 |
161,700 | 133,300 | 152,600 | 102,000 | 73,200 | 63,800 | 99,700 | 21,000 |
Dec 2005 |
169,900 | 134,200 | 160,800 | 105,200 | 73,600 | 108,900 | 94,900 | 62,600 |
Jan 2006 |
141,900 | 122,100 | 159,400 | 94,300 | 70,300 | 189,900 | 77,800 | 80,600 |
Feb 2006 |
133,000 | 125,200 | 152,400 | 92,700 | 71,300 | 203,700 | 78,500 | 74,200 |
Mar 2006 |
132,300 | 122,800 | 146,600 | 93,600 | 71,200 | 184,400 | 80,500 | 64,300 |
Apr 2006 |
132,300 | 122,900 | 144,400 | 90,200 | 70,300 | 180,100 | 80,600 | 27,900 |
May 2006 |
129,500 | 122,400 | 147,600 | 91,600 | 70,900 | 54,500 | 80,500 | 10,900 |
Jun 2006 |
130,300 | 124,100 | 138,400 | 92,500 | 69,900 | 45,100 | 76,300 | 12,000 |
Jul 2006 |
127,900 | 123,400 | 134,600 | 94,200 | 70,700 | 37,900 | 79,000 | 12,900 |
Aug 2006 |
128,500 | 124,400 | 147,700 | 95,000 | 73,200 | 39,500 | 81,700 | 13,500 |
Sep 2006 |
128,500 | 123,600 | 148,600 | 96,000 | 75,200 | 41,100 | 86,400 | 13,200 |
Oct 2006 |
137,200 | 125,800 | 146,500 | 94,900 | 77,600 | 41,900 | 87,600 | 13,300 |
Nov 2006 |
167,200 | 132,300 | 150,100 | 101,600 | 80,500 | 68,600 | 88,900 | 26,600 |
Dec 2006 |
175,100 | 133,200 | 157,800 | 102,600 | 81,500 | 116,800 | 85,100 | 60,400 |
Jan 2007 |
151,300 | 123,200 | 153,800 | 98,400 | 78,100 | 204,400 | 73,300 | 72,200 |
Feb 2007 |
140,900 | 124,700 | 149,300 | 97,300 | 77,300 | 223,700 | 75,100 | 75,600 |
Mar 2007 |
138,300 | 125,700 | 146,000 | 96,300 | 77,600 | 194,700 | 80,200 | 65,000 |
Apr 2007 |
138,700 | 124,600 | 144,400 | 97,700 | 79,600 | 183,900 | 81,600 | 33,100 |
May 2007 |
138,300 | 125,700 | 148,500 | 97,600 | 79,700 | 55,900 | 82,000 | 14,100 |
Jun 2007 |
140,000 | 126,200 | 139,000 | 99,400 | 79,300 | 44,900 | 79,300 | 15,300 |
Jul 2007 |
139,400 | 126,300 | 138,900 | 95,300 | 80,600 | 39,200 | 76,600 | 17,400 |
Aug 2007 |
141,400 | 125,300 | 147,400 | 95,100 | 81,800 | 41,500 | 85,100 | 17,200 |
Sep 2007 |
139,500 | 121,900 | 157,000 | 95,800 | 84,200 | 43,500 | 88,000 | 16,800 |
Oct 2007 |
147,900 | 123,200 | 146,900 | 98,700 | 86,500 | 46,600 | 90,400 | 18,300 |
Nov 2007 |
170,200 | 129,400 | 150,100 | 106,200 | 92,600 | 66,100 | 89,500 | 30,500 |
Dec 2007 |
176,300 | 134,900 | 157,900 | 110,900 | 95,000 | 134,600 | 87,400 | 62,100 |
Jan 2008 |
150,200 | 123,500 | 162,900 | 102,900 | 88,500 | 227,200 | 79,400 | 77,100 |
Feb 2008 |
141,300 | 122,700 | 153,000 | 98,900 | 88,500 | 233,100 | 79,100 | 76,900 |
Mar 2008 |
139,400 | 122,900 | 141,500 | 98,600 | 88,300 | 199,300 | 82,500 | 66,900 |
Apr 2008 |
132,200 | 122,000 | 139,800 | 99,800 | 90,400 | 192,800 | 82,700 | 36,500 |
May 2008 |
133,100 | 121,300 | 143,200 | 96,900 | 92,000 | 57,600 | 80,600 | 13,500 |
Jun 2008 |
136,300 | 120,100 | 134,000 | 97,300 | 90,800 | 47,200 | 76,000 | 14,600 |
Jul 2008 |
135,200 | 121,200 | 128,700 | 96,400 | 91,800 | 42,900 | 74,600 | 15,000 |
Aug 2008 |
136,900 | 120,500 | 146,200 | 96,700 | 92,500 | 48,300 | 79,800 | 14,800 |
Sep 2008 |
139,800 | 118,100 | 153,400 | 96,500 | 94,700 | 51,500 | 86,900 | 14,300 |
Oct 2008 |
154,700 | 116,300 | 140,500 | 98,500 | 97,200 | 50,200 | 90,300 | 16,600 |
Nov 2008 |
173,700 | 119,900 | 140,800 | 101,800 | 98,400 | 61,600 | 89,400 | 26,400 |
Dec 2008 |
178,000 | 123,400 | 148,600 | 105,500 | 99,400 | 117,700 | 84,700 | 60,800 |
Jan 2009 |
155,300 | 115,900 | 143,700 | 94,000 | 94,600 | 208,000 | 68,600 | 80,600 |
Feb 2009 |
141,700 | 114,500 | 134,600 | 95,700 | 92,100 | 225,100 | 69,500 | 77,300 |
Mar 2009 |
142,300 | 115,400 | 126,700 | 96,500 | 91,800 | 202,500 | 72,100 | 64,700 |
Apr 2009 |
138,900 | 114,900 | 125,100 | 95,700 | 92,400 | 193,900 | 73,900 | 29,700 |
May 2009 |
138,600 | 116,300 | 124,400 | 94,900 | 92,500 | 62,400 | 69,600 | 12,200 |
Jun 2009 |
137,800 | 117,900 | 118,800 | 94,600 | 92,900 | 49,000 | 66,200 | 13,600 |
Jul 2009 |
137,100 | 117,100 | 114,800 | 94,600 | 92,800 | 43,200 | 63,200 | 15,100 |
Aug 2009 |
137,600 | 115,200 | 127,500 | 94,400 | 94,000 | 42,900 | 66,600 | 15,900 |
Sep 2009 |
139,900 | 112,500 | 143,300 | 98,300 | 93,100 | 43,900 | 73,000 | 15,300 |
Oct 2009 |
143,800 | 111,500 | 126,700 | 102,000 | 94,400 | 49,400 | 78,700 | 17,900 |
Nov 2009 |
164,900 | 115,600 | 127,100 | 108,500 | 99,800 | 60,500 | 79,500 | 30,400 |
Dec 2009 |
169,600 | 114,900 | 134,200 | 111,700 | 103,700 | 122,100 | 76,500 | 59,800 |
Jan 2010 |
150,500 | 114,000 | 132,700 | 102,600 | 93,100 | 237,000 | 62,400 | 77,300 |
Feb 2010 |
145,000 | 110,200 | 129,400 | 101,100 | 92,100 | 242,200 | 62,900 | 76,500 |
Mar 2010 |
142,900 | 110,500 | 118,100 | 97,800 | 93,200 | 198,600 | 66,600 | 66,800 |
Apr 2010 |
139,700 | 110,800 | 117,500 | 98,500 | 96,000 | 188,000 | 68,000 | 31,400 |
May 2010 |
139,600 | 113,800 | 117,500 | 99,500 | 97,400 | 50,100 | 65,300 | 14,300 |
Jun 2010 |
143,200 | 115,800 | 113,000 | 101,800 | 100,100 | 38,900 | 62,700 | 17,500 |
Jul 2010 |
141,800 | 114,600 | 108,700 | 99,400 | 102,400 | 33,000 | 60,000 | 18,900 |
Aug 2010 |
142,500 | 116,800 | 121,500 | 99,600 | 104,000 | 34,800 | 64,200 | 20,200 |
Sep 2010 |
143,300 | 115,000 | 125,500 | 100,800 | 107,300 | 32,400 | 70,600 | 20,000 |
Oct 2010 |
153,800 | 113,800 | 113,400 | 104,700 | 110,900 | 33,400 | 74,400 | 22,400 |
Nov 2010 |
177,400 | 115,400 | 117,100 | 112,600 | 111,400 | 69,100 | 78,200 | 35,700 |
Dec 2010 |
185,300 | 115,400 | 124,200 | 116,500 | 113,800 | 111,700 | 80,000 | 67,300 |
Jan 2011 |
154,400 | 110,500 | 120,500 | 106,300 | 107,300 | 190,800 | 65,200 | 79,700 |
Feb 2011 |
145,900 | 110,600 | 114,000 | 104,400 | 106,200 | 202,200 | 63,800 | 76,800 |
Mar 2011 |
144,700 | 110,800 | 108,400 | 105,200 | 108,000 | 190,700 | 63,000 | 69,600 |
Apr 2011 |
144,400 | 112,700 | 103,500 | 106,500 | 110,100 | 182,800 | 66,600 | 41,700 |
May 2011 |
145,600 | 113,800 | 101,900 | 109,200 | 112,500 | 79,400 | 67,100 | 13,500 |
Jun 2011 |
149,400 | 115,900 | 95,400 | 109,400 | 115,600 | 65,800 | 67,300 | 14,300 |
Jul 2011 |
150,100 | 117,300 | 95,900 | 112,900 | 116,400 | 50,600 | 64,100 | 14,700 |
Aug 2011 |
155,200 | 116,500 | 106,200 | 114,200 | 118,700 | 45,200 | 68,500 | 14,100 |
Sep 2011 |
154,700 | 114,100 | 109,700 | 112,200 | 120,300 | 39,600 | 76,600 | 12,300 |
Oct 2011 |
159,100 | 114,100 | 93,600 | 114,000 | 123,500 | 40,600 | 78,100 | 12,900 |
Nov 2011 |
180,200 | 118,600 | 94,000 | 124,800 | 127,000 | 48,200 | 77,300 | 29,900 |
Dec 2011 |
177,800 | 121,000 | 98,200 | 125,300 | 127,100 | 114,900 | 73,100 | 57,400 |
Jan 2012 |
154,700 | 115,700 | 96,400 | 121,300 | 124,900 | 200,600 | 58,600 | 82,100 |
Feb 2012 |
149,800 | 113,800 | 97,100 | 121,500 | 125,800 | 215,900 | 59,400 | 78,000 |
Mar 2012 |
147,900 | 114,000 | 91,000 | 120,300 | 126,800 | 187,200 | 62,700 | 61,200 |
Apr 2012 |
147,300 | 114,600 | 89,600 | 118,000 | 128,800 | 177,700 | 64,600 | 31,400 |
May 2012 |
149,300 | 116,000 | 91,500 | 119,400 | 129,900 | 60,300 | 64,800 | 14,000 |
Jun 2012 |
152,500 | 117,800 | 84,500 | 117,600 | 133,500 | 45,600 | 65,000 | 16,400 |
Jul 2012 |
151,600 | 115,900 | 82,700 | 119,600 | 134,800 | 37,400 | 61,200 | 17,600 |
Aug 2012 |
151,300 | 117,600 | 98,000 | 120,000 | 137,300 | 37,300 | 67,100 | 18,500 |
Sep 2012 |
150,500 | 116,100 | 103,200 | 117,800 | 136,200 | 37,000 | 72,600 | 18,200 |
Oct 2012 |
158,500 | 117,500 | 90,900 | 121,800 | 141,300 | 38,500 | 78,200 | 19,200 |
Nov 2012 |
180,100 | 122,300 | 96,200 | 132,200 | 145,500 | 49,500 | 77,400 | 36,100 |
Dec 2012 |
179,000 | 126,000 | 99,000 | 137,300 | 148,200 | 103,200 | 75,500 | 59,100 |
Jan 2013 |
159,400 | 114,900 | 101,900 | 123,800 | 145,200 | 175,300 | 61,600 | 77,300 |
Feb 2013 |
150,600 | 116,500 | 97,300 | 122,200 | 144,900 | 193,500 | 60,200 | 75,500 |
Mar 2013 |
147,600 | 116,400 | 87,500 | 121,300 | 145,000 | 179,300 | 62,900 | 69,000 |
Apr 2013 |
146,500 | 116,000 | 87,800 | 123,200 | 145,500 | 172,800 | 67,000 | 38,000 |
May 2013 |
145,900 | 119,400 | 91,100 | 124,300 | 147,700 | 59,300 | 68,200 | 15,300 |
Jun 2013 |
148,200 | 120,700 | 88,300 | 124,500 | 148,800 | 47,800 | 68,200 | 18,100 |
Jul 2013 |
148,900 | 122,200 | 86,400 | 123,800 | 152,000 | 43,200 | 67,700 | 19,400 |
Aug 2013 |
152,500 | 124,400 | 93,200 | 124,700 | 154,400 | 43,800 | 72,800 | 19,700 |
Sep 2013 |
153,200 | 122,900 | 94,700 | 126,000 | 156,900 | 44,100 | 77,800 | 18,800 |
Oct 2013 |
167,000 | 129,000 | 89,800 | 129,900 | 161,300 | 46,400 | 82,100 | 20,100 |
Nov 2013 |
198,900 | 131,500 | 91,200 | 137,100 | 166,700 | 63,900 | 83,500 | 34,700 |
Dec 2013 |
208,700 | 135,500 | 94,900 | 142,100 | 166,800 | 82,200 | 82,800 | 82,400 |
Jan 2014 |
155,500 | 126,800 | 92,500 | 128,900 | 157,600 | 161,200 | 69,100 | 98,700 |
Feb 2014 |
144,200 | 128,500 | 86,900 | 126,200 | 157,500 | 188,500 | 66,700 | 98,500 |
Mar 2014 |
142,200 | 127,200 | 86,200 | 125,900 | 159,200 | 173,600 | 69,500 | 85,200 |
Apr 2014 |
140,500 | 128,600 | 87,100 | 127,200 | 162,400 | 165,900 | 72,500 | 44,600 |
May 2014 |
139,300 | 129,900 | 90,100 | 127,800 | 163,600 | 61,100 | 71,000 | 19,700 |
Jun 2014 |
138,100 | 133,800 | 87,900 | 129,100 | 170,200 | 54,200 | 69,300 | 22,400 |
Jul 2014 |
137,600 | 135,500 | 84,900 | 127,800 | 172,100 | 49,200 | 66,400 | 23,600 |
Aug 2014 |
138,600 | 137,800 | 87,500 | 128,700 | 175,000 | 50,200 | 71,800 | 23,600 |
Sep 2014 |
142,200 | 137,400 | 94,500 | 130,900 | 177,100 | 51,900 | 76,000 | 22,900 |
Two industries closely associated with the shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas are department stores, except discount, and hobby, toy, and game stores. Both typically reach employment peaks in December. Over the last decade, the seasonal employment peak in department stores has usually been 1.2 times higher than its low. The peak in hobby, toy, and game stores has been 1.3 times higher than its low. Cosmetic and beauty supply stores have followed a similar pattern. The winter increase in employment is not as large in electronics stores, home furnishings stores, and sporting goods stores.
Unlike other retail industries, clothing and clothing accessories stores, shoe stores, and book stores and news dealers have employment peaks in both the summer and the winter in most years.
Many industries have had winter employment peaks even as they experienced a general decline in employment during the 2007–2009 recession. The opposite has happened in the electronic shopping and electronic auctions industry. Within that industry, December employment peaks often precede steep employment declines. Employment in the industry continues to trend upwards, however, and each winter peak typically is higher than the previous peak.
A few industries outside retail trade have had winter or near winter peaks in employment. Employment in photographic services (which includes portrait photography services) usually peaks in October or November.
Employment in tax preparation services peaks near the end of winter, in February. Employment in the industry then declines slightly in March and April before a steeper decline starting in May. On average, the employment peak in tax preparation services employment has been 5.9 times higher than the annual low.
The largest relative change in employment over the year occurs in skiing facilities. In the past decade, the peak in skiing employment (about 79,000, on average) has been 6.4 times higher than the average annual low (12,650).
Temporary help services employment usually peaks in the last quarter of the year. The peak is about 1.2 times higher than the industry's annual low, but the seasonal employment increase averages over 360,000 jobs.
These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are not seasonally adjusted. You can find data for these and other industries using the CES Databases tools. This chart features both small and large industries, so the data appear on a logarithmic scale to show the employment changes clearly for all industries. With a logarithmic scale, a distance along the upper part of the vertical axis depicts a larger employment difference than the same distance in the lower part of the chart.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Industries with winter employment peaks at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20141203.htm (visited October 31, 2024).